Gingerbread masterpieces

Kingsley Holmes captured the Best Youth creation award for his "Sugar Plum Palace." ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Keith Geimer admires the "Candyland Express" during the annual gingerbread competition at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana on Wednesday night. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The "Welcome to the Orange County Parks" by Tom Starnes and Scott Thomas received the Best by a Corporation award during the annual gingerbread competition at the Discovery Science Center. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Heather Zubiate of Whittier captured the award for Most Realistic Creation at the annual gingerbread competition at the Discovery Science Center. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Tracey Lopez took home the President's Choice award for her masterpiece, titled "Down We Go," which depicted a teddy bear on a sled heading down a mountain. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Dozens of visitors take pictures of the gingerbread creations during the annual gingerbread competition at the Discovery Science Center. This creation by Tracey Lopez took home the President's Choice award for her masterpiece, titled "Down We Go," which depicted a teddy bear on a sled heading down a mountain. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Heather Zubiate of Whittier captured the award for most realistic structure at the annual gingerbread competition at the Discovery Science Center. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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David Sporn of Anaheim (not pictured) captured the Best Toy Replica award for his "House of Cards" during the annual gingerbread house competition. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Maya Gonzales and her brother Diego of Brea captured the Most Festive/Holiday Themed award for their "Happy Birthday Jesus" during the gingerbread house competition at the Discovery Science Center. They two received lots of help from their mother Rebecca, left, and Grandmother Irene. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Maya Gonzales and her brother Diego of Brea captured the Most Festive/Holiday Themed award for their "Happy Birthday Jesus" during the gingerbread house competition at the Discovery Science Center. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Members of the Orange Acres Backbreakers 4-H Club captured the Best by Youth Group award during the gingerbread house competition. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Members of the Orange Acres Backbreakers 4-H Club captured the Best by Youth Group award during the gingerbread house competition at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Melzer family captured the Most Original creation award for their "California Christmas." The Melzer family of Mission Viejo and Katie Robinson both won for the Most Original creation. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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David Sporn of Anaheim (not pictured) captured the Best Toy Replica award for his "House of Cards" during the annual gingerbread house competition. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Katie Robinson of Ladera Ranch captured the Most Original ward with her "Holiday Dog House." ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Katie Robinson of Ladera Ranch captured the Most Original award with her "Holiday Dog House." ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Kingsley Holmes captured the Best Youth creation award for his "Sugar Plum Palace." ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

SANTA ANA For each of the past four holiday seasons, Heather Zubiate has toiled in the kitchen of her Whittier home crafting her gingerbread masterpieces.

Each year, her efforts pay off

Zubiate's Holiday Cathedral, a palatial gingerbread creation, intricately decorated and detailed, captured the award for most realistic structure Wednesday at the annual gingerbread competition at the Discovery Science Center.

Awards are given each year in several categories and Zubiate, a mother of two and self-described homemaker, has taken home a prize in one category or another all four years of the competition.

"It started as a hobby and I just did it for fun," said Zubiate, who estimates spending 150 hours creating the cathedral, which was built with gingerbread cookies, corn flakes, icing and fondant.

Tracey Lopez of Fullerton, a two-time winner at the competition, took home the President's Choice award for her masterpiece titled, "Down We Go," which depicted a teddy bear on a sled heading down a mountain.

Lopez, an attorney, used Rice Krispie Treats, gingerbread, pretzel sticks, M&M's and left over Halloween candy.

"It took the better part of three solid days," she said.

Other winners included: employees of the Great Park Corp., who tied for first place for the Best by Corporation award for their gingerbread replica of an airplane hangar; the other Best by Corporation award went to Orange County Parks employees for their “Welcome to the OC Parks structure; the Orange Park Acres Backbreakers 4-H Club won the Best by Youth Group award for their creation of a Christmas village; the Most Festive/Holiday Themed winner was a nativity display created by Diego and Maya Gonzalez of Brea.

Science center spokesperson Kelly George said 94 entries were submitted for this year's competition - about 30 more than last year.

The gingerbread creations are on display throughout the science center's Science of Gingerbread Holiday Festival, which runs through Jan. 3

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